Book Review: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

War always brings about innovation, but when immortal forces begin their conflict again like they’ve always done anything new will have dramatic consequences. Rhythm of War, fourth installment of Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive sees the war over a year old and looking like it might be a long conflict.

This latest installment takes place a year after the events of Oathbringer, Sanderson bridges the time gap for each character in various ways—Kaladin in battle, Shallan in an undercover situation, etc.—that is explanative while not making the beginning of the book a slog. While dealing with the war from the perspective of at least one participant from each side, Sanderson tackles the effects of various mental illnesses that two of his primary characters must learn to cope with as part of their greater narrative arcs which came across as well written and not glossed over. However, in attempting not to shortchange the issues the characters are dealing with it feels Sanderson dwells on them too much in some scenes. The twist-and-turns in allegiances in the war, the surprising other half of one of the most infamous events in the history of Roshar, and the agreement between two characters to bring the war to an end in a short time highlight the climax of the penultimate volume of the first half of the series.

Rhythm of War is filled with twists and turns in both the narrative and character development that sets the stage for what is shaping up to be a stunning climax to mark the end of the series’ first half. With each new book Brandon Sanderson expands the connections of the Cosmere and Roshar appears to be the place where a showdown will eventually take place, but what kind and between who is going to be interesting to find out.

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